Dritho-Scalp News

TUESDAY, Sept. 5, 2017 – People with severe cases of the skin disease psoriasis appeared to have almost double the risk of dying during a four-year study than people without the condition, research suggests. But the increased death rate was only seen in those with psoriasis affecting more than 10 percent of their body surface area. For those with less-severe disease, the risk of dying early was actually less than it was for people who didn't have the skin condition. Dr. Robert Kirsner, chair of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said that over the last decade or so, doctors have learned that people with psoriasis tend to be less healthy. "They are overweight, have diabetes mellitus, smoke, drink and have high cholesterol," he said. "These factors – as well as the presence of psoriasis itself – increases their risk for vascular disease and other poor ... Read more

THURSDAY, Feb. 16, 2017 – The injected drug Siliq (brodalumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults. Siliq is approved for patients who've already failed to respond to other systemic therapies, the agency noted. The autoimmune disease – so-called because the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body's own tissues – causes thick, scaly patches of red skin. The drug is designed to inhibit the body's inflammatory response that plays a role in the development of plaque psoriasis, the FDA said in a news release. The disease occurs most often in people with a family history, usually between ages 15 and 35. Saliq was evaluated in clinical studies involving more than 4,300 people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The most common side effects included joint pain, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, ... Read more

THURSDAY, Feb. 16, 2017 – A new drug to treat tough cases of the skin condition psoriasis has won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Valeant Pharmaceuticals' injectable drug Siliq (brodalumab) was approved for adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis that isn't responding to other recommended treatments. However, the drug carries a warning about increased risk for suicidal behavior. Psoriasis is characterized by raised patches of red skin and flaking. The condition usually begins between ages 15 and 35 and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, meaning the body mistakenly attacks healthy cells. "Moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis can cause significant skin irritation and discomfort for patients, and today's approval provides patients with another treatment option for their psoriasis," said the FDA's Dr. Julie Beitz. Beitz is director of the Office of Drug ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 – Patients using prescription creams, gels, sprays and pills for skin conditions may shell out substantially more at the pharmacy than they did just six years ago, a new study suggests. Between 2009 and 2015, retail prices of brand-name dermatologic drugs rose 401 percent, on average, study authors reported Nov. 25 in JAMA Dermatology. Even generics have succumbed to price inflation, up 279 percent between 2011 and 2014, based on the drugs surveyed. Price increases for skin treatments far outpaced the general inflation rate of 11 percent during the six-year study period, the researchers said. "Cancer drugs were the worst in terms of the numbers" – up 1,240 percent or nearly $11,000 over the six-year study period – primarily because of two medicines, said Dr. Steven Rosenberg, voluntary professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of ... Read more

THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2015 – The skin disorder psoriasis appears linked with artery inflammation, raising the odds for heart disease, a new study says. "As the amount of psoriasis increases, the amount of blood vessel inflammation increases," said senior investigator Dr. Nehal Mehta, a clinical investigator with the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. His team also found that even mild psoriasis may indicate an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Just one psoriasis skin patch, or plaque, "might be biologically active, causing low-grade inflammation and starting a cascade, speeding up their blood vessel disease," Mehta said. "People really should know that psoriasis is not just a cosmetic disease," he added. However, these study findings only show an association between psoriasis and blood vessel inflammation, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship, Mehta said. His ... Read more